Welcome aboard this Airbus assembled by humanoid robots

March 8, 2016 | 10:34

This is not your captain speaking

Airbus Group Innovations (AGI) has launched a robotics research programme with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Their joint aim: developing humanoid manufacturing robots. Oofff that’s a relief, the robots aren’t flying any Airbuses yet.

Airbus Group Innovations (AGI) has launched a robotics research programme with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Their joint aim: developing humanoid manufacturing robots. Oofff that’s a relief, the robots aren’t flying any Airbuses yet.

AGI claim that adding that humanoid form will enhance the dexterity and versatility of robots, making them suitable for a range of tasks in a variety of environments without having to make significant changes to manufacturing processes originally designed for humans. They also believe that viable humanoid robotics will require researchers to develop algorithms to give robots the equivalent of hand-eye coordination for work in confined and poorly accessible spaces.
The majority of research will be conducted at the CNRS-AIST Joint Robotics Laboratory (JRL), which was established in 2004 on the AIST campus in Tsukuba, Japan.

The project will be supervised by a scientific board composed of Airbus Group, AIST and CNRS members, and a steering board including representatives of all three project partners and members of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Happy landings!